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Mosiah’s Gift

This is that sacred and essential time of year when we remember our freedom, and how it was obtained. We remember with deep emotion those who sacrificed, fought, and died to preserve our liberty. We remember with fondness those great men and women who dared in a time to turn their backs on the rule of kings, and gamble their future on the rule of law. But would it surprise you to learn that such a thing had happened once before on this precious land of promise that we call America?

91 BC, somewhere in these Americas: Mosiah, King over the land of Zarahemla, faced a predicament. His time in this life was short, and a successor must be chosen. But his sons had abdicated the throne for service to the Lord. Now, having just conveyed to his people the records of two civilizations destroyed by the wickedness and tyranny of kings, King Mosiah set upon a plan, as he put it, to “newly arrange the affairs of this people.” (Mosiah 29:11).

Mosiah loved his people like a father, and having given his life in dedicated service for them, he was not about to see them destroyed after his death by a wicked king. For five hundred years his people had been ruled by kings, but what of the future? What if a tyrant ascended to the throne? He could not bear it. Therefore, in his last days he would do that which would make for the peace of this people” (Mosiah 29:10).

“Behold,” Mosiah proclaimed, “how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed … and what great destruction” (Mosiah 29:17). And from there Mosiah went on to explain the burden that kings bear, and the burden that they are upon their people. When the kings are faithful the people prosper, but when the kings sink into sin they always take their people with them, and their iniquities are answered upon the heads of their kings” (Mosiah 29: 31), and that as Mosiah said was simply not just. He asked his people, therefore, to forego their desire for a new king, and set up a free republic of elected judges who would judge the people according to the laws handed down by their forefathers. “I command you,” he said in earnest, “to do these things in the fear of the Lord” (Mosiah 29:30).

Well, the people became “convinced of the truth of King Mosiah’s words, “… and relinquished their desires for a king, and became exceedingly anxious that every man should have an equal chance throughout all the land … and every man expressed a willingness to answer for his own sins” (Mosiah 29: 37-38).

Well, the elections were held and the people’s votes cast. Judges were elected to fill the constitutional offices designed by Mosiah. It became a time of great national rejoicing among them. Their love for their king knew no bounds. Mosiah had voluntarily surrendered his power and given them back the full gift of their God-given agency. They were, for the first time in their national existence, a free people, governed by the rule of law; a nation of men who now literally were their own men.

Now, it – it’s no wonder that they did esteem Mosiah beyond measure” (Mosiah 29:40). They looked upon him with the same adoration that we look upon Washington and his colleagues – for the same reasons.

So momentous was this year in ancient American history that they changed the calendar, and began to reckon their years from that point forward. Thus began the Reign of the Judges.

Now, the Israelites had Moses; the Nephites had Mosiah. Both would live into history as the great law-givers of their people.

My friends, America was consecrated and set apart by the Almighty to be a chosen land of liberty long before the Patriots of ‘76.